Electric swivel



March 4, 1930. E. E. GOUCHER ET AL ELECTRIC SWIVEL s Sheets-Sheet 1'Filed Aug. 25, 1928 0 s 6 1. a a N "U bg EEfiaucher ATTORNEY March 4,1930.

E. E. GOUCHER ET AL ELECTRIC SWIVEL Filed 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 IA- HI ATTO RNEY March 4, 1930. E. E. GOUCHER ET AL ELECTRIC SWIVEL Filed g-1.928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 EEG crucher Z222 Uummpngs ATTORNEY Patented Mn.4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I m E. GOUCHER AND RODNEY 1a.cmmnms, or-mcmmnvrnnn, onneon nnnc'rnrc swrv'nr.

Application filed August 25, 1928. Serial No. 301,970.

This invention relates to a swivel connection for electric conductors,the general object of the invention being to provide a pair of memberswhich are swiveled together whereby one member can be rotated inrelation to the other without breaking the connection between theconductors of the members and without causing twists or kinks in theconductors. z This invention also consists in certain other features ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement ofv the severalparts, to

be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1is an elevation, partly in section, of one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar right angles to Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on line ure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig ure 2.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a view of the inner rod to which one of the conductors isattached and which is rotatably connected with the plug.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modification.

Figure 9 is a similar view, but taken at right angles to Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another modification.Figure 12 is a section on line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a section on line 13 13,of Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a section on line 14-44 of 50 Figure 11.

view but taken at 4-4 of Fig- Figure 15 is a view showing various partsof the device shown in Fi re 11.

Referring to the first orm of the inven' tion, the numeral 1 indicatesthe plug member having a plate 2 fastened to its rear end, a rod 3connecting this plate with the central contact 4 of the plug. A bar 5 isrotatably fastened to the center of the plate by a screw 6, the end ofthe bar passing throu h a hole in the plate and the free-end of the isenlarged and recessed, as at 7, to receive the terminal of the conductor8. A sleeve 9 of non-conducting material surrounds the bar to insulatethe same from a tubularmember 10 to which the terminal of the conductor11 is connected. The inner end of this tubular member terminates a shortdistance from the rear end of the plug. A pair of spring arms 12 isfastened to the plug and to the shell 13 thereof by the screws 14 andthe free ends of these arms are recessed and engage the tubular member.As shown, the tubular member extends well beyond the bar 5 and itsinsulating sleeve 9 and said tubular member is electrically connectedwith the shell 13 by the arms 12, while the bar 5 is electricallyconnected with the central contact 4 of the plug by the threaded rod 3and the plate 2. Thus the plug can be rotated without rotating the bar 5and tubular member 10 and the parts connected therewith without breakingthe electrical connection between the contacts of the plug and theconductors 8 and 11, so that the plug can be screwed into a socketwithout twisting or kinking the wires 8 and 11.

In order to insure good electrical connection, we provide a spring plate2 which is connected with the plate 2 and engages the conical head ofthe screw 6, so that some of the current will pass from the plate to themember 5 and some of the current will pass from the plate through themember 2, the head of the screw to the member 5.

A housing 15, formed of non-conducting material, has its enlarged partfastened to the outer end of the plu with its restricted part, whichforms a han e, surroun the tubular member 10, so that the plu canscrewed into a socket by grasping e handle part of this housing withoutthe hand of the user coming in contact with the metalparts of thedevice.

In the modification shown in Figures 8, 9

' and 10, which is useful for connecting one of a conductor 18. Thespring arms 12' are fastened to the plug as in the first form, andengage the tubular member 10 and one of these arms is connected to theterminal of the conductor 19 by a screw 20 so that current will passfrom the conductor 11' through the tubular member 10' to one of thespring arms and then pass from the arms over the conductor 19, thecurrent returning over the conductor 18, strip 16, bar 5' to conductor8'. The housing 15' which encloses the interior parts of this device isformed with the offset portions 15" which form recesses to receive theterminals of the conductors 18 and 19 and the heads of the screws 17 and20.

, As but one of the spring arms 12' is connected with the conductor; weconnect the other spring arm with the said arm by a bar 12" which passesthrough the plug so that the two arms are electrically connectedtogether.

The modification shown in Figures 11 to 15, is useful for connecting onepair of conductors with another, where friction is to be minimized and aperfect electrical connection must' be maintained at all times, as inradios, tele aph, telephone, etc.

In these gures, 21 indicates an exteriorly threaded plug formed ofinsulating material and provided with the oppositely arranged recesses22adjacent its outer end for receiving the screws .23 and 24 which engagethe ends of the conductors 25 and 26. A substantially L-shaped plate 27is placed in the plug with one arm perforated and threaded to receivethe screw 24 and its other arm having a hole therein to receive the rod5", the rod being attached to the plate by the conical headed screw 6"which is engaged by the spring plate 2" attached to the plate 27, sothat current will pass from the conductor 26 through the plate 27,spring late 2", screw 6" into the bar 5". This ar 5" passes through aplug 28 spaced from the plug21 and an angle plate 29 engages the bar 5"and is attached to the plug by the screw 30 which passes through theterminal of the conductor 31. A tubular member 32 encircles a sleeve 33of insulating material which surrounds a part of the bar 5" and anextension 33' of e tubular member is connected with the plug 28 by thescrew 34 which also passes through the terminal eye in the conductor 35.

A brush carrying arm 36 passes through the plug and the screw 23 passesthrough a hole in this arm and connects the conductor 25 with said arm.A short brush carrying arm 37 is connected with the arm 36 by the crosspiece 38 which has a hole therein which spaces the cross piece from thebar 5". The

brushes 39 on these arms engage the tubular member 32. A disk 40 isfastened to the outer end of the plug 21 by a screw 41 and this disk hasholes therein through which the conductors 25 and 26 pass, this diskacting to clamp the conductors to the plug; A similar disk 42 is placedon-the lower end of the bar 5" for clamping the conductors 31 and 35 tothe plu 28. Thus it'will be seen that current will 0w from the conductor26, plate 27, bar 5 tobonductor 31 and the current will return throughthe conductor 35, tubular member 32, the brush carrying arms 36 and 37to the conductor 25.

A sectional housing 43 encloses the parts with the adjacent ends of thetwo sections threaded to the plug 21, the ends of the housing havingholes therein through which the conductors pass.

From the foregoingit will be seen that in all forms of the device, onepart can be rotated in. relation to the other part without breaking thecircuit and without kinking or twisting the wires, and if the wiresshould become twisted, a slight pull on the wires will cause the swivelconnection to rotate in a reverse direction and thus remove the kinks.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction andin the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided thatsuch changes fall within the scope of the appended'claims.

What we claim is 1. A swivel connection for electric conductorscomprising a plug, a bar rotatably connected with the central part ofthe outer end of the plug, a member of non-conducting material coveringthe bar, a tubular member encircling the non-conducting member,conductors connected with the bar and the tubular member, means forelectrically connecting one of the contacts of the plug with the bar, abrush for electrically connecting the other contact of the plu with thetubular member and a housing formed of non-conducting materialmechanically connected with the plug and enclosing the brush, the barand the tubular member.

2. A swivel connection for electric conductors comprising a plug, a barrotatably connected with the central art of the outer end of the plug, amember 0 non-conducting material covering the bar, a tubular memberductors connected with the bar lar member, means for electricallyconnecting I encircling the non-conducting member, conand the tubuone ofthe contacts of the plug with the bar, a spring arm for electricallyconnecting the other contact of the plu with the tubular member and ahousing ormed of non-conducting material mechanically connected with theplug andenclosing the spring arm, the bar and the tubular member.

3. A device of the class described comprising a plug having a pair ofcontacts thereon,

a plate at the rear end of the plug, a bar rotatably and electricallyconnected with the plate, means for connecting the plate and bar withone contact of the plug, a pair of spring arms, one of which isconnected with the other contact of the plug, a sleeve of non conductingmaterial encircling the bar, a tubular member surrounding the sleeve andextending beyond the outer end thereof, the spring arms having recessedportions contacting the tubular member, a conductor connected with thetubular member, a conductor connected with the bar and a housing ofnon-conducting material connected with the plug and enclosing thetubular member and the spring arms.

4. A device of the class described comprising a plug having a pair ofcontacts thereon, a plate. at the rear end of the plug and electricallconnected with one contact, a bar rotata ly and electrically connectedwith the plate, a spring member connected with the plate and engaging apart on the bar, a pair of spring arms carrying brushes connected withthe plug and also connected with the other contact, a sleeve ofnon-conductin material encircling a part of the bar, a tu ular membersurrounding the sleeve and engaged by the brushes, a conductor connectedwith the tubular member, a conductor connected with the bar, clampingmeans for each set of conductors for preventing strain at the points ofjunction of the conductors with the members to which they are connectedand conductors connected with the contacts.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signams ELMA E. GOUOHER.

' RODNEY B. oumnNGs.

